Name:_____________________________________________________________Date:__________Pd:______

Standard S6E5 d. Explain the causes of currents, waves, and tide (Study
Guide)

1.Is a large stream of moving

water that flows through the ocean,
carry water great distances, move
water at the surface of the ocean, also
move deep water
2. Surface currents are caused by
.
3. Warm surface currents originate
(start) near the .
4. Why do surface currents move in
circular patterns?

5. What is the largest and most

powerful warm surface current in the
North Atlantic Ocean, caused by
strong winds from the west?
6. What type of surface current is the
Gulf Stream? (Warm or Cold)
7. How do surface currents influence
the climate of land near the coast?

8. How does the Gulf Stream affect

the climate along the east coast of the
United States?
9. These currents move deep below
the surface of the ocean and are
caused by differences in density
(temperature and salinity)..
10. The density of water depends on
it ___________ and ___________.
11. Would you expect salinity to be
high or low in a rainy ocean region
near the mouth of a river? Why?
12. What happens to the density of
ocean water when the salinity of the
water increases? Does the water sink
or rise? Why
13. Which is more dense (Warm
water) or (Cold water)?
14. Describe three ways the density 1. When the temperature of ocean water decrease it
of ocean water can increase: becomes more dense and sinks
2. When the salinity of ocean water increases through
 freezing the water becomes more dense and sinks
3. When the salinity of the ocean water increases
through evaporation, the salt is left behind and the
water becomes more dense and sinks

15. Most waves form when__________

blowing across the waters surface
transmit their energy to the water.
16. The size of a wave depends on 1. Strength of the wind- stronger winds create larger
what three things. waves
2. The length of time the wind blows- the longer the
winds blows the larger the wave
3. The distance over which the wind blows- winds
blowing across longer distances build up bigger waves
17. The ______________ of the wave
moves toward the shore, but the
____________ remains where it was.
18. Draw and label the parts of a
wave: crest, trough, wavelength, and
Wave Height.

19. What happens to the wavelength

and the wave height as the wave
approaches the shore?
20. _____________ is the rise and fall of
Earths waters on its coastlines.
21. What force causes the tides to
occur on Earths surface?
22. Why does the moons
gravitational pull have a greater
influence on Earths waters when
compared to the Sun? The Sun is the
most massive body in our Solar
System.
23. How many high tides and low
tides occur each day (24 hour period)?
24. What is a tidal range?

25. Diagram and Label a Spring Tide:

Sun, Earth, Moon, and tidal bulge.

26. In which phases of the moon do New moon and Full Moon
Springs Tides occur?
27. Why is the tidal range the
greatest during a Spring Tide?
28. Diagram and Label a Neap Tide:
Sun, Earth, Moon, tidal bulge.

29. In which phases of the mood do First Quarter and Third (Last) Quarter
Neap Tides occur?
30. Diagram and Label the phases of
the Moon: New Moon, First Quarter,
Full Moon, and Third Quarter